The Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Competition is held in conjunction with the Miss Nebraska Competition, and is the state final for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition held in Orlando, Florida. This branch of the Miss America Organization was first introduced in 2006. Contestants may compete as “At-Large Contestants”, not sponsored by a local pageant, or may be the winner of a local Miss Teen competition. All of them share the same general eligibility requirements:

Resident of Nebraska for the last six months

Must be 13 by July 31st

No older than 17 by July 31st

U.S. Citizen

At-Large Contestants not sponsored by a local program, as well as winners of local competitions, are all accepted at the state pageant held each June. The entry fee for the state pageant is $350 for local winners and $400 for At-Large Contestants. In many cases, local pageant committees will assist with payment of the state pageant entry fee. Check with local directors for local competition entry fees. Academic scholarships are also awarded at the local and state levels.

LOCAL PAGEANTS
See the Miss Nebraska website for the most up to date info regarding local pageant dates as well as Local Director contact info.

AT-LARGE CONTESTANTS
We believe every young woman who has the desire to compete for Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen should have that opportunity. Anyone can compete as an At-Large Contestant as long as eligibility criteria and paperwork requirements are met. You will be required to pay an entry fee of $400.

Upon committing to compete At-Large you will be given a title to compete as (ex: Miss _____’s Outstanding Teen), and from that point you will only be recognized as your assigned title just like the other contestants. You will also be given the opportunity to purchase a crown and sash to represent your title.

Competing At-Large is a great opportunity for any young woman to compete for the title of Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen. For more information, please contact the state directors.

Heather Edwards, Director

17102 Camden Cir

Omaha, NE 68116

heatheraloseke@gmail.com

(402) 779-1956

Kali Tripp, Co-Director

kalinicoletv@gmail.com

406-671-2652

AREAS OF COMPETITION
Contestants in the Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Competition are evaluated in the following areas:

Private Interview (25% of total score) – The Private Interview phase of competition is an opportunity for the judges to learn as much as possible about the contestant – her personal qualities and attributes to be Miss Local’s Outstanding Teen; her level of communication skills; her opinions and aspirations; her sense of accomplishment, poise, and presence as well as her ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the position judges have been requested to fill. At the local level, individual interviews with the judges are 6 minutes long. At the state and national levels they are 8 minutes long. There are typically 5-7 judges on the panel, and the interview is press-style, with the contestant standing at a podium. Contestants are questioned on their background as presented on their fact sheets, their educational and career goals, their interests, hobbies and extracurricular activities, or any major current events that relate to their specific platform or career interest. Scoring is based on overall “first impression”; communication skills including speech, vocabulary, and grammar; a confident and charismatic personality; ability to express and distinguish her beliefs; attractive and stylish in an age-appropriate manner; leadership and sense of accomplishment; and knowledge and understanding of her platform issue.

Lifestyle and Fitness (15% of total score) – Each contestant briefly appears on-stage (up to 30 seconds) modeling sportswear of her, or the pageant committees’, choosing that represents something she does to stay fit. The Executive Director of the competition must approve workout attire prior to the competition. Workout attire must be age-appropriate, and typical of what a teenager would wear to workout at the gym. An example of workout attire includes sweats, leggings, or shorts with a tank top or half top and tennis shoes. Swimsuits and clothing specifically for dance, such as a leotard are not permitted. Scoring is based on overall first impression, statement of strong physical fitness and health, sense of attractiveness and presence, display of energy, charisma and expression, sense of confidence and composure. The fitness of the teen, by the shape of her body, is not being judged. Instead, her level of pursuit and dedication to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is being evaluated.

Talent (35% of total score) – Contestants perform a 90-second routine of their own choosing. Some possible talents include all types of singing, dancing, gymnastics, instrumental music, dramatic or comedy monologues, baton twirling and ventriloquism. Other talents that can be performed solo on a stage are also possible. Phone or e-mail us if you have a question about your talent presentation. Scoring is based on contestant’s skill and personality, interpretive ability, technical skill level, stage presence and totality of all elements, including costume, props, voice, use of body and choreography.

Personal Appearance/Poise in Evening Wear/On Stage Question (25% of total score) – Each contestant appears on-stage in an outfit of her own choosing, representative of what she would wear to a prom or other formal event. Although contestants typically wear ball or evening gowns, pantsuits, tea-length dresses and cocktail dresses are all appropriate for this phase of competition.
Scoring is based on overall first impression, sense of confidence, personality and stage presence, walk, posture, carriage and grace, appropriateness of attire and sense of style, sense of attractiveness, beauty and charm.

REQUIRED PAPERWORK
Each contestant competing at the state and local level will be required to submit a platform and resume sheet for the judges, as well as some other supplementary paperwork. Instructions and samples of the resume and platform sheet can be found below. Each local director can also help to guide you through all the necessary documents.